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SJ RIVER TURNING PINK
Safe tracer dye part of Lathrop sewer plant study
river island
The river along the River Islands community will get an FDA-approved, water-soluble dye tracer next week as part of its ongoing Effluent Dispersion Study to improve environmental understanding of local waterways.

The river along Lathrop will soon sports a different color.

But the pink or reddish tint in the water will only be temporary.

Rhodamine is a family of fluorescent dyes that are used as tracers and probes in biological and environmental applications.

Next week – Monday and Tuesday – the City of Lathrop will be conducting a dye tracer study as part of its ongoing Effluent Dispersion Study, in an effort to improve environmental understanding of the local waterways.

The use of rhodamine will be introduced to the San Joaquin River. “(Rhodamine) is an FDA approved, water-soluble due commonly used to track water flow,” said the City of Lathrop Friday via social media.

The city noted, reassuring residents, that the non-toxic dye poses no harm to aquatic life or human health – Rhodamine is biodegradable and will dissipate naturally within a short time.

For more information or details, contact the City of Lathrop’s Public Works Department at 209.941.7430.